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The only thing I can think of is that DD expected Pouncey to release the defender and either continue going left or go up the field and try to get a LB. I heard a few postgame comments from DD, but no real explanation.

It's called "zone blocking" for a reason. DeCastro went to a zone and threw a block. Not his fault that Pouncey was there instead of the defender.

OK, so I never played football at a level where there is zone blocking involved.

But I can't see how a player throwing his body at a point in space, even if there is no defender there, would be considered proper execution of a zone blocking system or any blocking system for that matter.

OK, so I never played football at a level where there is zone blocking involved.

But I can't see how a player throwing his body at a point in space, even if there is no defender there, would be considered proper execution of a zone blocking system or any blocking system for that matter.

It wasn't proper execution...but I believe he was trying to carry out his zone blocking assignment. Unlike the OP, I can fault DD for poor execution on the play.

OK, so I never played football at a level where there is zone blocking involved.

But I can't see how a player throwing his body at a point in space, even if there is no defender there, would be considered proper execution of a zone blocking system or any blocking system for that matter.

But Pouncey went down eight plays into the drive when right guard David DeCastro, pulling from his left to deliver a cut block, drove into the back of the center's legs rather than those of nose tackle Sammie Hill.

He got the wrong man, and, on the sidelines, defensive end and co-captain Brett Keisel was furious. He is one of NFL's main lobbyists against the cut block, and he's even more opposed now that Pouncey's season is over because of what Keisel termed friendly fire.

“When you have a play like that and the backside guard is cutting, it's ridiculous,” Keisel said. “Guys are big enough and strong enough to block. ... I know it's legal, technically, but it's been proven that guys are getting their knees blown out. The league has got to do something.”